Motzek (Curly) Strang

I have been lucky enough to be gifted some of this after hearing many good things about. Yes, there's a little hype about this stuff and it turns out to be warranted.

As stated before, this is a wet one, but drying is no real issue. Cutting is no real big issue either. My preferred packing method is the one described by Jiminks, it seems to bring out a bit more flavour to me, but other methods will still provide a veritable waft on the palate. The flavour itself is the perfect melange of sweetness, nuts and a little spice that avails itself aplenty on the tongue. The flavour is strong, but in a good way, not overpowering like some others.

This tobacco is nothing short of perfect, the flavour is just delightful, it dries without issue and is easy to cut and pack. Yes, it's a bit tough to get hold of, only hailing from Germany (a land which seems capable of producing only great tobaccos), but I guess that makes it all the more treasured.

Scored a small sample of this from a trade partner in Europe. Still getting acquainted with it, but it's unlike anything I've smoked yet.

Nicely constructed rope gives you plenty of options.

When lit, there's an intense sweetness, an intense tanginess, and they just flat out work together, all the way through the bowl. Flavor's analogous to a really good sweet-and-sour dish, but with a fair amount of salt and pepper thrown in.

Definitely worth trying if you can get your hands on some. Might be worth taking that German language class you've been thinking about...?

I was fortunate enough to acquire a 100 g portion of this marvelous stuff in a trade with a fellow PSF member who happens to live in Germany. At the time of our deal, he had placed an order and had to wait for Mr. Motzek to make more of this blend. I was a bit skeptical about all of the hype behind this tobacco. However, upon opening the package, my mind was certainly changed.

It is a thick rope tobacco. My friend vacuum-sealed it, so it was very moist when I received it. The tin note of this tobacco is absolutely amazing! It has a sweet, earthy scent. It was much too moist to smoke fresh from the package, so in desperation I cut a few thin coins and dried them out with a hairdryer for a few minutes. When they reached the proper moisture level, I broke them up and put them in a Peterson 999. I had cut them thin enough to where they packed easily (I use a cigar cutter to cut the coins, but the rope is stout enough to handle a sharp knife blade without making a mess). It only took one charring light before I was off and running. The flavor of this tobacco is complex enough to hold your attention, but it won't leave you trying to think of flavors that may or may not exist. The sweet brown Virginias are delicious, and surpass "honey" sweetness and land somewhere in "brown sugar" or "molasses" territory. It isn't an overpowering sweetness though, and that's the beauty of it. The burleys are nutty, and the Perique adds zest to the mix. It is honestly one of the most well-behaved and well-balanced tobaccos I have ever smoked. The VA's did not bite me at all, but both of the bowls that I have smoked so far have been carefully sipped. I imagine that if one were to smoke this stuff too fast or too wet, it would surely do a number on the tongue. The nicotine hit is definitely there, but it isn't anything that will have you hugging the toilet.

Herbert Motzek is a genius. I found that it was well worth the price that I paid for it, and I can see myself getting more - even with as hard as it is to obtain here in the U.S. It isn't an everyday smoke, but a treat to be savored. If you are lucky enough to have some of this on hand or in pipe, you're lucky enough.

I ordered my strang ready sliced but it is the same blend as the rope. It looks very much like Mac Baren Stockton, a dark filler with plenty of bird's eyes wrapped in Virginia. The taste is not so far removed from that tobacco either but the one that comes really close is HU tobacco Director's Cut. Thankfully, it is not a nicotine bomb and I believe the Perique is sparingly applied here. I detect (being a Dutchman, we enjoy this..) a faint licqorice flavour and perhaps aniseed here as well. A lovely tobacco that I plan to keep in my rotation. Update: my latest order was the Strang Pur (the rope) and I almost didn't recognize the taste, so much sweeter (definitely a mild topping that must have evaporated on the sliced version) , mellower and more moist as well.

WOW! This his my hammock tobacco. This is a rope which is easily cut into small slices, I prefer to layer it with a coin going in then crumbling some coin on top and following that procedure. I don't want the tobacco too tight. My tobacco came somwhat damp but I don't want it too dry either. It took two kitchen matches and I was slowly sinking into my hammock surrounded by fragrant clouds of deep dark molasses. The perique provides a little zip with some fig and raisin, There is just enough nicotine to give you a pleasant buzz as you sway in the breeze. So there you have it. A lovely tobacco with a lot of flavor and just complex enough to keep you interested. Its lovely aroma remains afterwards to provide memories. It is a blissful, celebratory smoke I reserve for long summer evenings dedicated to watching swirls of smoke over my head. If you acquire some of this lovely stuff, just let me know.

A very delicious rope Tobacco, quite similar to Mac Barens Dark Twist or Stockton.

Sure some nuances a different but they are too subtle to describe them (at least for me). Maybe there is a little bit more spice/piquancy involved? Words are words and taste is taste... I smoked it right away without drying etc and it worked perfectly. I did not experience any problems at all with heat/bite/gurgling, it just burns down very calm and clean. I will think about how to store this tobacco for the long haul and buy a lot more of this fantastic stuff. Just to see and handle this long rope is a pleasure. I love it!

4 stars!!!

I was lucky to get ahold of some 20g of this. Being the huge Motzek/TAK fan that I am I was so freakin' excited to finally try this. But at first a few words on why it's not produced anymore: Tom Darasz, the now head-blender and owner of Motzek (Herbert Motzek taught Tom Darasz to blend all the old Motzek blends) said to me that the farm that produced teh tobaccos for the Strang went out of business. He tried different leafs, but due to the glory the Motzek Strang gets he didn't wanted to re-release it as the replacement leafs ain't what the originals used to be. The originally used leafs were somewhat special he said. So far so good... but we may see a re-release of the Strang if he'll find a worthy replacement for the old leafs.

My 20gs of Strang are well aged, at least 2-3 years. The unburnt aroma is of fermented fruits, nuts and spices and all in all very natural to me. Got mine pre-cut, yet it isn't the pre-cut version. Lovely curlys, about the size of the Mac Baren Roll Cuts. In the pipe this is a most pleasant Va/Bur/Per with all the components taking a equal share of the taste. The Virginias are sweet and fruity-fresh with citrusy notes. The Perique, which is mildly applied, yet noticeable all the way through, is peppery an stoved fruit-ish. The Burley gives it "that certain something" contributing a delicate nuttiness, rich earth and chocolaty hints. A synergetic interplay of all 3 components make for a outstandingly good tasting blend for my taste buds.

I just wish I had more of this gem...I started pipe smoking when Strang already was out of production, but maybe Fortuna is on my sides and lets me find a Strang...or two... or two hundreds... 😉 4-stars and a All-Time-Favorite. For me the best Va/Bur/Per.

I'm not usually a fan of blends that contain burley but this one is a huge exception. This is my favorite blend of all time. The tangy sweetness and strength are pronounced. The blend produces a unique spicy taste, feel and aroma that I have never encountered before and it's highly addictive. Different from the spice in Dan's Patriot flake or any other blend that tends to be spicy. Almost full flavored with a good amount of nicotine. To me it's worth whatever price it can be obtained at and I have no other tobacco blends in that unique category. I've had luck lately purchasing from friends in Europe, seems like the easiest way to obtain these days. Just super fantastic stuff!

Wow, there’s nothing to say, just wow. I really have no words (it doesn’t happen so frequently) to say how this tobacco is close to perfection (and I’m not talking about SG’s em). A very good Virginia, a present and tasty burley with the right quantity of perique… immediately put in my favorit tobacco’s list